About the study

What is OPAL?

The Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Lifestyle (OPAL) study is Australia's first study into lifestyle factors that may improve survival rates and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer.

The OPAL Study has recruited 960 women newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer over the next few years to see whether lifestyle factors, including physical activity, diet and medication use influence cancer relapse and survival. The study hopes to provide advice for women about lifestyle changes that may help them.

Who is running the study?

The study is being run by scientists at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, together with doctors at many of the large hospitals around Australia.

The Chief Investigators are:

Professor Penelope Webb, QIMR Berghofer, QLD

Professor Anna De Fazio, NSW

Professor Michael Friedlander, NSW

Professor Andreas Obermair, QLD

Professor Peter Grant, VIC

Dr Christina Nagle, QIMR Berghofer, QLD

Dr Vanessa Beesley, QIMR Berghofer, QLD (OPAL-2)

Associate investigators:

Professor Georgia Chevenix-Trench, QIMR Berghofer, QLD

Professor David Bowtell (AOCS II)

Associate Professor Penelope Blomfield, TAS

Associate Professor Alison Brand, NSW

Dr Alison Davis, ACT

Professor Yee Leung, WA

Associate Professor James Nicklin, QLD

Professor Michael Quinn, VIC

Ms Karen Livingstone, Consumer

Ms Helen O’Neill, Consumer, ANZGOG

Ms Merran Williams, Consumer, QLD

Who is funding the study?

The study is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. NHMRC OPAL NHMRC Grant no GNT1025142 (2012-2016); OPAL 2 NHMRC Grant no gnt1120431 (2017-2021).

Also we would like to acknowledge funding provided to us by the following:

Brisbane Women’s Club 2014, 2015

Bupa 2014- 2016

Cory Charitable Trust 2012- 2017

Women and families who have donated to the study

The study has been approved by all the relevant Research Ethics Committees and conforms to the requirements of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. It is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.